Upright-piano action.



W. F.'COOPER.

UPRIGHT PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION 111w JULY 1. 1915.

Patented Feb. 8,1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. COOPER, OF NORWALK, OHIO.

UPRIGHT-PIANO ACTION.

Application filed July 1, 1915.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM F. Coornn, a. citizen of the United States of America, residing at Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Upright- Piano Actions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to upright piano actions and has special reference to that type of upright piano action adapted to be used in conjunction with player piano mechanisms wherein the latter are located entirely beneath the manual of the piano so that the player mechanism may be withdrawn without in any way affecting or disturbing the manual.

One important object of the invention is to provide a construction of such a piano action as will permit proper operation of the action abstract either from the key board of the instrument or through the pneumatic of the player action.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide an adjustment easily accessible from the front of the instrument for such an abstract.

A third object of the invention is to provide an abstract of such character as to dispense with the pitman rail and its attendant complications, the invention being an improvement upon the copending application #514,320, filed August 23, 1909.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in certain novel details of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter fully de scribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and Figure 1 is a cross section of a part of a piano showing an action constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing the joint between the abstract and the wippen. Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the abstract lever. Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the pneumatically operated lever.

In carrying out the objects of this invention, there is illustrated in the present embodiment a key bed 10 whereon is located Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1 916.

Serial No. 37,574.

a key frame 11 having a felt strip 12 at its rear end upon which the rear end of the key 13 normally rests. At ll is shown an upper action rail to which a wippen 15 is pivotally connected and this wippen carries the remainder of the action, this being indicated in general at 16 and it being understood that the action shown is merely typical of any preferred form of action employing a wippen for its general support. Beneath the key bed 10 is a rail 17, the rail being located in such position as to project slightly to the rearward of the key bed 10. To this rail is hinged one end of a imcumatically operated lever 18 depending from which is a sticker 19 provided at its lower end with a button 20 which is arranged to be lifted by the pneumatic 21 of a player action, the pneumatic and rail being located entirely beneath the key bed so that they may be withdrawn from the piano without interference from the key bed or any other parts thereof. The improved abstract consists of a shank 22 having a projection 23 extending forwardly therefrom above the rear end of the key 13 and asecond projection 21 ex tending forwardly from the lower end of the shank. This abstract is connected pivotally to the wippen 15 as at 25, the end of the abstract being reduced and received between ears 26 formed on the wippen. At 27 is shown a lower action rail and to this lower action rail is secured a flange 2S whereto is pivoted one end of an abstract lever 29, the remaining end being pivoted to the abstract as at 30. Through the projections 23 and 24 passes an adjusting screw 31 which carries at its lower end a button 32 resting on a felt 33 carried by the pneumatic lever 18. It will be observed that the button 32 lies below the plane of the lower surface of the key bed 10 so that the entire pneumaticaction can be withdrawn without disturbing the abstract Furthermore, it will be observed that the projection 23 is provided on its under surface with a felt 34; engaged by a capstan head screw 35 carried by the rear end of the key 13. Thus, the abstract is at all times supported by the key so that even when the player mechanism is withdrawn the action can be operated from the keys. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the lower action rail 27 is dropped until it assumes a position substantially behind the key bank in place or" the ordinary position well above the key bank in the forms of upright actions now commonly used.

l i hat is claimed as new is 1. in a player piano, the combination with a piano action, of abstracts for the same, piano keys, a piano key-bed, player piano operating mechanisms placed below said keys and key-bed, and adjusting screws extending through said abstracts from above the keys and in front of the abstracts to the player piano operating mechanisms.

2. In a piano, the combination with an action incliidii'ip; a wi -pen, a lzey bed, a key mounted on said bed, of a player piano on crating; lllQCllEllllSll" located beneath the key bed, an abstract provided with spaced torwardly extending projections, one of which extends over the key and the other oi? which extends from the lower end of the abstract means connecting; the first projection and the toy, and an adjusting screw extending through the projections and provided with a button at its lower end arranged to engage the player mechanism.

In a piano, the combination with an action includii a wippen, key bed, a key mounted on said bed, of a player piano op erating mechanism located beneath the hey bed, an abstract pivoted to the "'ippen and having; a portion extending below the .zey

bed and a second portion extending over the key, a regulating screw arried by the key and a felt on the second projection engaged by the regulating screw, a lower action rail located behind the key and a pivotal connection between the lower action rail and ab stract.

l. In a piano, the combination. with an action including a wippen, a key bed, a key mounted on said bed, of a player piano op erating; mechanism located beneath the key bed, an abstract provided with spaced torwardly extending projections, one 01" which extends over the key and the other of which extends from the lower end of the abstract, a regulating; screw carried by the key and a 'telt carried by the projection extending; over the key engageable by the regulating an adjusting screw extending through the projections and provided with a but ton at its lower end arranged to engage the er mechanism, a lower action rail located behind the key and a pivotal connection between the lower action rail and abstract.

Witnesses L. rdrzoon. Fmncns L. Boon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, I). G. 

